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The Idols of Babylon

46 Bel bows down, Nebo stoops,
    their idols are appointed to the beasts and the cattle.
The things that you carry are burdensome;
    they are a burden to the weary beast.
They stoop, they bow down together;
    they could not deliver the burden,
    but themselves have gone into captivity.

Listen to Me, O house of Jacob,
    and all the remnant of the house of Israel,
who are borne by Me from birth
    and are carried from the womb:
And even to your old age I am He,
    and even to your graying years I will carry you;
I have done it, and I will bear you;
    even I will carry, and will deliver you.

To whom will you liken Me, and make Me equal,
    and compare Me that we may be alike?
They lavish gold out of the bag,
    and weigh silver on the scales;
they hire a goldsmith, and he makes it a god;
    they fall down and worship it.
They lift it on the shoulder, they carry it,
    and they set it in its place, and it stands;
    from its place it does not move.
If one shall cry to it, it cannot answer
    nor save him out of his trouble.

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Gods of Babylon

46 Bel(A) bows down, Nebo stoops low;
    their idols(B) are borne by beasts of burden.[a]
The images that are carried(C) about are burdensome,
    a burden for the weary.
They stoop and bow down together;
    unable to rescue the burden,
    they themselves go off into captivity.(D)

“Listen(E) to me, you descendants of Jacob,
    all the remnant(F) of the people of Israel,
you whom I have upheld since your birth,(G)
    and have carried(H) since you were born.(I)
Even to your old age and gray hairs(J)
    I am he,(K) I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
    I will sustain(L) you and I will rescue you.

“With whom will you compare me or count me equal?
    To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?(M)
Some pour out gold from their bags
    and weigh out silver on the scales;
they hire a goldsmith(N) to make it into a god,
    and they bow down and worship it.(O)
They lift it to their shoulders and carry(P) it;
    they set it up in its place, and there it stands.
    From that spot it cannot move.(Q)
Even though someone cries out to it, it cannot answer;(R)
    it cannot save(S) them from their troubles.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 46:1 Or are but beasts and cattle